A well known high street pizza chain has come under fire this week for the high salt content in its meals. Pizza Hut has been named the worst fast food chain for high salt levels by the Consensus Action on Salt and Health. According to researchers, children enjoying meals there as a half-term treat are in danger of going four times over their recommended daily salt allowance.
More alarming, researchers also found that some meals from other fast food chains are also concealing shockingly high levels of salt. These findings are worrying to say the least. Eating too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn causes heart attacks and strokes. The recommended maximum daily salt intake is 6g per day for adults, 5g per day for children aged 7 to 10, 3g per day for 4 to 6 year olds and 2g per day for 1 to 3 year olds. Maybe it’s time to consider making homemade treat foods like pizza. It’s certainly a healthier option as you can “hide” some vegetables in there, which children wouldn’t normally eat and pizza bases are readily available in supermarkets.
8 comments:
It is scary to read the labels for some ordinary foods. My husband eats potted meat (yeacchhh) and I have started reading the labels. Kids eat nothing but salty things.
I hope you participate in Fall Fest, 4th Qtr BV carnival. I am hosting and its all set up with the carnival site, which makes it nice.
Hi Cybercelt
I agree it is scary! My brother loves potted meat (we have it here in England too!) and I'm always telling him how unhealthy it is. I must admit I have a weakness for crisps as well which are also high in salt.
I will definitely be joining in Fall Fest Carnival. I will also display your banner to help promote it. Best of luck Eileen! Hope everything goes well for you.
Hmmm...I am a saltoholic. A pickle will set me up every time, if I'm feeling a little sick. Vinegar does the same, hence the pickle.
But I agree, these processed foods are salt laden, when they don't need to be. It sets up our children to think food doesn't taste good without it, which is far from the truth.
Homemade foods are always better for me, Naomi, I can taste the chemicals in prepared foods, and even as a saltoholic, I find them far TOO salty!
Too much salt can also lower your bone mass--I've heard! That's something I have to watch.
I always have Lo-Salt at home and try to avoid eating too many prepared foods Marion.
I also heard that about bone mass Sharon. That's quite scary. You will have to be careful. Have you tried LoSalt? I think they sell it over there too.
Fast food and pre-packaged foods are the worst. I love salt but you are so right about preparing food at home to control it. There is a DASH diet that reduces blood pressure by lowering salt intake. Good idea.
We have a form of Lo-Salt but it is horrid. I limit myself to sea salt in cooking things like potatoes but never adding salt at the table. I also use a fair amount of soy sauce to add a salty taste.
What is scary is the fat in fast foods and not knowing the quality of the meat used.
Anything that lowers salt intake sounds like a good idea Sheila. I haven't heard of the Dash diet but it sounds great.
Adding Soy sauce sounds like a good idea Jackie. Some herbs are good for adding flavour too and a lot healthier than salt. The nutritional content of fast food is always a worry Jackie. I think that's why Macdonalds here have started selling fruit bags and salads to give customers more choice. A great idea!
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